Method of converting an electromagnetic anechoic test chamber to an electromagnetic reverberation test chamber

Abstract

The invention is a method of converting an electromagnetic anechoic test chamber into an electromagnetic reverberation test chamber. Lightweight and flexible conductive fabric is used to cover (fully or partially) the radio frequency absorbing walls of an anechoic test chamber. The conductive fabric is strategically arranged and disposed across the interior of the anechoic test chamber by a variety of means including magnets and low-loss dielectric frames.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for converting an anechoic test chamber into a reverberation test chamber comprising:
 providing a quantity of conductive metalized fabric sufficient to cover an interior of an anechoic test chamber, wherein said conductive metalized fabric is sufficiently flexible to be rolled and folded, wherein said conductive metalized fabric reflects electromagnetic waves; 
 attaching the quantity of conductive metalized fabric through the use of an attaching means to an interior of an anechoic test chamber for the purposes of covering said interior of the anechoic test chamber, wherein said interior of the anechoic test chamber has at least one surface of radio frequency absorbing material; and 
 deploying the quantity of conductive metalized fabric in such a manner as to partially expose parts of said radio frequency absorbing material in said interior of the anechoic test chamber, wherein said partial exposure depends on the requirements of a particular complex cavity electromagnetic test. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein the conductive metalized fabric weighs less than four ounces per square yard and has a sheet resistance of not more than one ohm per square yard. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1  wherein the attaching means is a plurality of magnetic fasteners. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1  wherein the attaching means is at least one frame made of a low-loss dielectric material. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1  wherein the attaching means is a plurality of lines made of a low-loss dielectric material. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 4  wherein the low-loss dielectric material is polyvinyl chloride. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 5  wherein the low-loss dielectric material is nylon. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1  wherein deploying the quantity of conductive metalized fabric in such a manner as to partially expose parts of said interior walls of the anechoic test chamber involves folding or rolling up the conductive metalized fabric.